PESTICIDES AND HONEY BEES 



Prepared by L. N. Standifer, ARS entomologist' 



Honey bees produce honey and 

 beeswax valued at $100 million an- 

 nually. Much of this honey comes 

 from cultivated crops. The annual 

 value of crops benefited by insect 

 pollination, the majority of which 

 is performed by honey bees, ex- 

 ceeds $10 billion. The farmer and 

 the beekeeper are, therefore, de- 

 pendent upon each other. 



Honey bees may be killed when 



crops are treated with pesticides. 

 When this occurs, both the farmer 

 and the beekeeper suffer a loss. 

 For this reason, they need to 

 cooperate fully in protecting the 

 bees from pesticide damage. 



Observing the precautions 

 recommended in this publication 

 can greatly reduce bee losses from 

 pesticide poisoning. 



PRECAUTIONS FOR THE FARMER 



Use biological or other non- 

 chemical control methods if at 

 all possible. 



If chemical control is essential, 

 use the proper dosage of the 

 safest material (on bees) that 

 will give good pest control. 

 Notify the beekeeper if you in- 

 tend to treat the crop. Tell him 

 what material will be used and 

 when it will be applied. 

 However, notification of the 

 beekeeper does not relieve the 

 grower of all responsibility for 

 damage incurred. 

 Read the label and follow ap- 



'Bee Research Laboratory, Tucson, 

 Arizona 85719. Other collaborators were A. 

 S. Michael and S. E. McGregor, ARS en- 

 tomologists, (retired). 



proved local, State, and Federal 

 recommendations. 

 Remember that the time the 

 pesticide is applied, depending 

 on the blooming period and at- 

 tractiveness of the crop, makes 

 a big difference in the damage 

 to the bees; therefore, treat the 

 field when the plants are least 

 attractive to bees. 

 Do not spray or dust chemicals 

 over colonies, especially in hot 

 weather when the bees cluster 

 outside the hive. 

 Apply chemicals at night or 

 during early morning hours 

 before bees forage. 

 Try to treat the plants before 

 they come into bloom or after 

 the blooming period. 



